Shell Eggs to be Irradiated

The final rule to permit fresh shell egg irradiation was published by the US Food and Drug Administration on July 21st of 2000. The rule (65 FR 45280 )will permit the irradiation of shell eggs up to 3.0 kiloGray. The FDA says that while irradiation will not eliminate salmonella and other microorganisms, they will be reduced. The agency also says that irradiation is not toxic but will negatively effect the color and viscosity of the eggs. Food activists are not happy with the new rule. Although egg cartons will be labeled with the radura that is also required to be on irradiated meat packages. Activists want a warning label. "We're going to petition the FDA to have a hearing and a stay of the rule," Mark Worth, a senior researcher with the organization Public Citizen http://www.citizen.org, said. Groups such as Public Citizen say there have been insufficient studies on the safety of irradiated food, and that the federal government has ignored studies questioning the safety of irradiated food. FDA now allows the irradiation of beef, lamb, and other red meats a well a poultry, pork, spices, and some fruits. But a recent survey by the Center for Disease Control found that only about fifty per cent of consumers are willing to purchase irradiated meat or poultry. Only 25 per cent of consumers, the survey found, would pay a premium for irradiated food.

SOURCES: FDA Publishes Final Rule Permitting Use of Irradiation on Fresh hell Egg, WORLD FOOD REGULATION REVIEW, September 2000; Paul D. Frenzen, Alex Majchrowicz, Jean C. Buzby, Beth Imhoff, Issues in Conumer Acceptance of Irradiated Meat and Poultry Products, FOOD SAFETY ECONOMICS, August, 2000.

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